Newcomer: Tinnitus from Loud Music Years Ago, Now Got a New Humming/Vibrating Sound

[Phildnb]

Hi all,

Just a check-in from myself, I am new to the forum so I'll tell my story.

My problems are all caused by earphones and exposure to loud music, which makes the frustration so much greater when it comes to this condition, as it is all self inflicted.

Started to hear a light ringing in my ear one night in bed, when I was 16 years old. My life changed from that moment. My whole thought process changed, I obsessed over it, and I lost so much good time to thinking and avoiding social situations because I made the situation worse in my head. My condition is 5/6 times worse now, at 27 years old.

Looking back, I used music as a kind of therapy, and the sad thing is, is that the cause is also the cure in a sense, I was addicted to music, and loud music. I was young and naive, I never thought that companies would be so careless to make a listening device strong enough to damage a person's hearing, and how wrong I was.

Over the years I managed to accept my tinnitus, which is complemented with hyperacusis and hearing loss, and up until a few days ago, a humming/vibration coming from my right ear.

I'm hoping it's a muscular thing as opposed to a new tinnitus sound, and that it might go away after a while, but who knows.

It's amazing what our minds can adjust to over time, and I will not let this control me.

 

[billie48]

It's amazing what our minds can adjust to over time, and I will not let this control me.

Welcome to the forum. You have a positive attitude towards your tinnitus as reflected in your last sentence quoted above. When tinnitus is new, our mind can be traumatized by it a bit, and may be affixed to monitoring it all the time. It is because the mind doesn't understand what is going on with this new but foreign sound and without the ability to shake it off, it can turn into fearful and panicky mode, the so called fight or flight response caused by the triggered limbic nervous system which is used when the brain senses danger. However, overtime, when nothing bad happens, and also when you maintain a calm and positive stance towards T, then the mind learns to relax and slowly accept and adapt to this new normal. With that the normal parasympathetic nervous system will return and the pre-frontal cortex will take over from the Amygdala in processing this ringing sensation. The cortex has the natural function to suppress fearful reaction. So you become a lot more composed and more at ease even if the ringing persists. The mind will then slowly get used to this ringing and habituation will begin. All the best to you and take good care. God bless.

 

[Michael Leigh]

My problems are all caused by earphones and exposure to loud music, which makes the frustration so much greater when it comes to this condition, as it is all self inflicted.

HI @Phildnb

You have recognised the original cause of your tinnitus was a combination of headphone use and exposure to loud music. Both are common causes of tinnitus and a lot of people in this forum have this condition resulting from headphone use and exposure to loud noise. Although you have been able to manage the tinnitus quite well for a considerable length of time, I have the feeling that you haven't had any treatment for the hyperacusis that you mention? If this is the case and you are still sensitive to certain sounds, and continue using headphones? These are the likely cause of the discomfort that you're now experiencing. My advice is to stop using headphones even at low volume and if the humming and vibrations in your ears don't settle, then get a referral to ENT for tests, and then see an Audiologist that specialises in Tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment and management.

Many people that have noise induced tinnitus and use headphones even at low volume, risk their tinnitus getting worse.

All the best
Michael

 

[Lazyboy]

Welcome, Michael's advice echos my own thoughts on you particular situation - I too have noise induced tinnitus from music. I am still getting to grips with how to stop my tinnitus spiking and I have found that not listening to music over speakers or earphones helps keep it under control. My suspicion is that in my particular situation listening to any music that contains the frequency that caused the problem even really quietly seems to trigger a spike/change. The longer I listen the worse or longer lasting the spike. Hope that is of some help.

By the way Michael Leigh could you kindly try to PM me please?

 

[Michael Leigh]

Welcome, Michael's advice echos my own thoughts on you particular situation - I too have noise induced tinnitus from music. I am still getting to grips with how to stop my tinnitus spiking and I have found that not listening to music over speakers or earphones helps keep it under control. My suspicion is that in my particular situation listening to any music that contains the frequency that caused the problem even really quietly seems to trigger a spike/change. The longer I listen the worse or longer lasting the spike. Hope that is of some help with time.

By the way Michael Leigh could you kindly try to PM me please?

@HI @Lazyboy

I have only seen your post by chance. In future if you wish to alert me please do so by writing my name starting with @: @Michael Leigh Then I should receive an alert message. Your sensitivity to sound is caused by hyperacusis and needs to be treated. Although keeping away from sounds you mention may stop your tinnitus spiking it is not treatment. Some people do this and also wear earplugs to help prevent their tinnitus from spiking but this is not ideal as the condition can become more acute.

Hyperacusis can improve by itself over time but if it doesn't the problem with oversensitivity sound will remain. One can try self help or seek professional treatment, with an Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management and treatment. This will likely require the wearing of white noise generators to help desensitize your auditory system. Counselling is advised with this treatment but not always essential. I have written an article on self help for hyperacusis titled: Hypercusis, As I see it, in the link below.
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

I will PM you.

Michael